Dealing with a new diagnosis of fibromyalgia...
#169543 - 04/13/05 10:11 AM
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steather
Reged: 01/29/03
Posts: 345
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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Hello all!
I know I haven't been active, ever, in the living room....and I stopped participating in the Recipe forum as well. It's just gotten to the point that I only have so much energy to get through the day (so many spoons, if you will! I really appreciated that analogy, Casey), and reading and responding to everyone's posts are two things that I just gave up doing. And most of the time nowadays I'm in so much pain that the thought of typing makes me cringe.
Well, anyways, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia today. And I just want to cry! On top of EVERYTHING ELSE that I have to deal with (which certainly doesn't help with the fibro, that's for sure), I now have to accept that I have a chronic condition, that I can't beat, no matter how determined I am. SIGH. Deep down, I knew I probably had fibro, but since most doctors are quacks and think that the pain and the sleeping problems and the inability to think straight are all in my head, then I've been able to live in ignorance, and denial. Not anymore! I finally found a doctor who could relate with me (her sister has had fibro for 18 years), and help me see a light at the end of the tunnel. On top of the sleep medication (she now has me on elavil??), she's throwing all these other anti-inflammatory drugs at me, and physical therapy (won't that only make me hurt worse? I hope not!) and anti-depressants. Up to now I've resisted drugs, and have dealt with my IBS naturally, and have gotten that under control for the past couple years. SO I am overwhelmed at the thought of taking all this stuff, just to get through a day. There's so much to learn, and read up on, and again, the thought just drains me. And then there's dealing with the fact that I am struggling in school, and there is no way that I can continue being a full time grad student. I feel like such a failure compared with the other students! But after the worst year ever, I have finally hit my rock bottom, and I just want to feel better! And stop crying everyday!
I guess I'm just looking for outreach at this point, and possibly some info on the best meds to take? What does everyone know about SSRIs? I know that the best way to start feeling better will be to get some sleep! I was taking ambien, and that didn't help, I actually still woke up throughout the night and felt like a zombie the next day. I'm just hoping that eventually I'll be able to sleep on my own....for a while there, before I was prescribed anything, I would get maybe 2-3 hours of sleep every 3-4 days.
Thanks for your help!
-Heather
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Heather
"Quod me Nutrit me Destruit"
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I don't have fibro (at least as far as I know!) so I'll only be the tiniest bit of help, but I just wanted to give ya some *hugs* and reply so this gets bumped up! There's quite a few people on here with fibro, but it's just a matter of them seeing this post and offering their insight.
I can give you some encouragement about the physical therapy - a friend of mine has fibro, and she's found that staying active has really helped her a lot. In her case, she doesn't do PT, but she works in her garden and gets exercise where she can. Staying active seems to help with the pain. Definitely give it a shot!
Elavil might help you with some of the pain, too, in addition to the sleep. My boyfriend was just prescribed it for migraines! The pharmacist explained that it's prescribed for so many things now... give it a try, it really might help. 
That same friend who has fibro also tried Ambien and said it was useless... you're not alone there!
I know reading and researching is overwhelming and exhausting right now, but you might be interested in http://www.fibrohugs.com/
Hang in there... and check back, I'm sure you'll get more helpful input when some of the other fibromites check in.
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I don't have fibro either but I just wanted to give you *hugs* to and wish you all the best!
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I can use all the *hugs* I can get right now! (So long as you promise to be gentle  )
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Heather
"Quod me Nutrit me Destruit"
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Hey Heather!
I checked your profile to e-mail ya....but it's not listed. Mine is Ruchily@yahoo.com
I was on lexapro and it helped me out. I was also on amytryptaline and then nortryptaline. For sleep I was on ambien for a bit. But I encourage you to try magnesium malate for sleep. It has helped me more than ANYTHING when it comes to getting a good night sleep. You can also eat a banana as it has calming effects. But I would try one thing at a time so you know what's working!
I am off all meds right now. I am controlling the fibro with diet and lifestyle changes. This does NOT mean the fibro is gone or that my life is perfect. But things are MUCH better for me. PLEASE do not give up hope...
And please don't spend a lot of time at fibrohugs.com chat room. The info. there is helpful....but for me at least, reading the posts depressed me and left me with little hope. Stick around here...Linz, Tissy, Nelly, Laura, and all us fibromites are POSITIVE and that is the BEST medicine! Being depressed takes away another spoon as it uses up negative energy. (NOT easy to be positive...that's why we're here to help you smile!) 
The best suggestion I was given on the boards when Iw as diagnosed was to CHILL and take some ME time and to get some good books on fibro and read a little each day to get informed.
I was also given a lot of ((((((((hugs))))))))
And support.
And love.
So be sure to let me know if you need anything...let any of us know! We've been where you are......so we understand.
"miss Heather...you're fibro frog fighter is here!" 
Sending you love, prayers, gentle hugs, and a heating pad,
Ruchie
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Being diagnosed with Fibro is not the end of the world, although at first it may seem that way. But you will eventually have good days as well as bad days. Right now it sounds like you are in a flare up. It always seems darkest to me when I am in a flare. But on good days I think to myself I am alright and I can keep this thing under control and not let it rule my life.
I also fought taking meds for the fibro but I eventually gave in and took them because I had to sleep or I was going to breakdown. After I got months of mostly good sleep I slowly came off my meds. I only take valerian (herb that helps you to sleep) and extra strength tylenol for the painful days and Naproxen (rx pain killer) if I absolutely have to. I also exercise now and try to intake as much H2O as possible. This has made me much less achey and I have more good days then bad days. But OH BOY watch out when I do have a flare up it is really painful and depressing.
Everybody is different and has different extents of Fibro. I believe I have a mild case. I am still able to work full-time. Others have severe cases and meds are the only relief as well as therapy. But it may be possible for you to do it w/o meds eventually. Just like the IBS you have to experiment, trial and error to find out what works for you.
Good Luck and if you ever need to vent there are several Fibromites on this board besides myself. Ruchie, Linz, Nelly, LauraSue, JenX just to name a few.
Christie
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Christie
~Hoping and Praying for Sleep!~
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Okay, firstly, try an believe me when I say the first major just-gotten-diagnosed flare is the worst!  Not least cos you have no idea how to manage it! But it WILL get a bit better...promise!
Re. a-d's...elavil and me didn't get on (I got INSOMNIA from it!  ) but I take Celexa for my Fibro and love the stuff. It really helps.
I take a Valerian and Hops mixture to help me sleep. I've never tried AMbien as my doc won't prescribe it for me, but the herbs work most nights.
I second Ruchie on the Magnesium Malate btw! And if you can get a mix that contains manganese as well, all the better. It helps me with the pain AND the sleep...such a wonderful thing! 
I don't actually recommend anti-inflammatories...Fibro has no associated inflammation and they can make the IBS worse. I take Co-codamol (Tylenol with Codeine) for my pain and love it...it even heps with the mental problems. The only thing you have to watch for is that it's slightly constipating.
PT is a great idea as long as your therapist knows something about Fibro. Exercise is essential to staying mobile...just be super careful to not overdo it! Just walking 5 minutes down the road and back everyday will help.
Good luck. Feel free to email me if you want. This is rather disorganised as I'm a bit froggy..sorry! 
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Hi, so sorry to hear you're another member of our Fibro Club! Yes, it is difficult to adjust to the concept of a chronic illness with no cure. The process of dealing with that is very similar to the grief process, because you are grieving the loss of your "healthy" self. So give yourself time, feeling all the feelings, denial, anger, bargaining and sorrow, and you'll get through it to a place of acceptance, where fibro doesn't dominate your life, it's just part of it, like dentists and car repairs and other routine maintenance of life!
DON'T RESIST THE DRUGS!! They are extremely important to you now. If you had pneumonia you wouldn't resist penicillin. If you had diabetes you wouldn't resist insulin. If you broke your leg you wouldn't resist a painkiller or two. It's okay to take prescription drugs that are medically necessary. And there are a number of excellent medications that can help you manage your fibro symptoms quite effectively, and new ones coming on the market all the time.
Elavil is the gold standard of fibro treatment. I've been on it for around two years, since just after I was diagnosed. It promotes deep Level 4 delta sleep, which we don't get due to something called alpha-EEG anomaly sleep disorder. You are absolutely right that none of the other symptoms can be effectively addressed until your sleep disorder is managed and you erase the HUGE sleep deficit you are walking around with. (That's why it's so common for us to wake up feeling exhausted or like we've been hit by a Mack truck during the night! The technical medical name for it is "unrefreshed sleep.")
I also take other sleep meds, some every night, others just as needed (like Sonata). It's really a matter of trial and error of what your doctor thinks might work best for you. Everyone is different. (Okay, before you ask, my other sleep meds are generic Benadryl, the antihistimine that makes you drowsy, and Xanax.)
As fair as pain meds, studies have shown that the most effective, lowest side effect med for fibro type nerve pain (as opposed to muscle or tissue pain) is Ultram, generic name tramadol. I take it together with Extra Strength Tylenol generic version, and it helps me tremendously. I can always tell when I've missed taking a dose on time, because my back starts getting that fibro achy flu-like feeling.
There's a ton of info on the Internet when you're ready to start researching and there are several excellent books about it too.
Good luck to you and hang in there, it DOES get better.
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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LS, You ROCK!
#170261 - 04/15/05 05:02 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Kudos, LS! I don't have fibro, but if I did, you're the gal I'd come to. You say the right things and provide the right support. You're one terrific gal.
Thanks for being there for our fibro folks.
{{{{Hugs}}}}
Bevvy
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Ditto, Linz!
#170262 - 04/15/05 05:04 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Linz, you and LS are FANTASTIC! What a team! I know if JenX were here, she'd be right in there with you guys.
Thanks for being so terrific. I hope your financial situation is turning around for you.
{{{{Hugs}}}}
Bevvy
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Thanks Bev!
#170534 - 04/17/05 04:56 AM
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Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
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You're not so bad youself! How's that house in the woods looking now it's spring?
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Oh yeah!
#170535 - 04/17/05 04:57 AM
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Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
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Mark Pellegrino (doctor-patient-expert) writes great books that are really helpful with understanding and getting through the "grief" process of having the diagnosis. I love that guy!
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LS....
#170536 - 04/17/05 05:00 AM
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Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
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...do you think I should try taking Elavil again - in the morning? I'm doing pretty well on Celexa and like it...and the Elavil at night gave me insomnia but I was wondering if taking Elavil in the morning could help more. Whaddya think?
PS. Hoping to get my psycologist apt soon!
PPS. Have you tried a TENS machine? My doc's referred me for a trial, but I keep on having to reschedule.
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Re: LS....
#170930 - 04/18/05 01:32 PM
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LauraSue
Reged: 01/14/04
Posts: 4812
Loc: New York City
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Hi, Linz!
I couldn't hazard a guess about the Elavil. I'd go with your gut feel and your doctor's advice.
I haven't tried a TENS machine but I've read posts on the Fibrohugs board from others who have. Vaguely remember postive comments but no miracle cure, of course.
Hope you're feeling better. Good luck with the therapist. I couldn't do without mine. I would not be nearly as healthy physically or mentally, because when you're not feeling good mentally, it's impossible to get motivated to take care of yourself physically!
Smooches!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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First off, thank you all for your quick & helpful responses…I'm sorry I didn't respond as efficiently, but I am very appreciative of everyone's support!
As for meds -- I am taking Elavil for sleep right now, and it's knocking me out pretty good. However, I still wake up constantly throughout the night (sometimes gasping for breath, with this weird sucking in snort thing…it scares the dickens out of me!)…which is probably due to sleep apnea, as that runs in my family. Has anyone here had to deal with that? I am afraid of going off the Elavil, since I wasn't able to fall asleep AT ALL before it, and am assuming the meds will only make it harder to sleep on my own…But I don't like how completely groggy it makes me feel throughout most of the day…by the time I start to feel 'alive', and normal, its bedtime and I have to calm myself down again!
I'm starting to see physical therapy and have slowly reintroduced exercise into my schedule – though swimming feels like I'm lifting a couple of cinder blocks over my head with each stroke. And the shooting pains down my arms and legs usually cut my sessions short. *Sigh*, what happened to the days when my lung capacity was the determining factor???
Also, I am supposed to see counseling/psych, but there are no appointments available at the school's center for another 2-3 weeks….It's that crazy time of year when students are stressing out and trying to drop out of classes, which they need a counselor's approval to do…I'm already starting to feel LOADS better now that I've started getting some rest (not the most peaceful sleep, but at least I can THINK POSITIVELY now!)
Ruchie – thanks for the fibro frog fighter I have posted my email addy now, so feel free to email whenever. I'll definitely look into the magnesium malate as a sleeping aid…and ((((hugs)))) back!
Tissy – you are right, I am in the middle of the worst flare-up I have ever had! Which is probably why the doctors have just finally diagnosed the fibro. And with a mild case, do you ever find that people treat you as though you can't possibly have anything wrong with you, since you do have good days where you "appear" normal?? I'm getting that from everyone who has seen me in my better days…I get the idea that they think I'm making this up for attention, or a way out of my work. If only!
LS, you should write a self-help book for fibro! You definitely have a way with words! It's so nice to talk to others with fibro, because they talk as though they were living in my body….and truly understand what I'm going through. Thanks for all of the info on the meds – I'll ask my doctor about Ultram.
Linz – you are right about the anti-inflammatory, i'm not sure the naproxen is working at this point…and I did not like the weird chest pains I was getting as a side effect. For now, I'm using Tylenol and the elavil… And what is Celexa? And thanks for the tip on Mark Pellegrino, I was going to ask if anyone recommended any books to start out with.
Thanks again to everyone! And {{gentle hugs}} to all!
-Heather
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Heather
"Quod me Nutrit me Destruit"
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Heather
#171862 - 04/20/05 11:40 AM
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Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
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Celexa is an SSRI a-d.
I really like Mark Pellegrino's books. Devin Starlanyl's may be more informative, but I found them really hard work - not what you want when in a fibro flare!
Ask your doc about Ambien. Although it's a stronger sleep aid than Elavil (it's a sedative hypnotic, not an a-d), it's known for having less morning-after effects than other drugs.
Also...get some Magnesium Malate (pref. with Manganese). Fibromites are typically deficient in all these and they're needed for energy and muscles. Both Ruchie and I have had a positive response to a supplement.
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Yes....
#172154 - 04/21/05 09:14 AM
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Tissy
Reged: 07/15/04
Posts: 773
Loc: Baltimore, MD
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I do get alot of sh*t from my family who keeps telling me everything is in my head, b/c I look fine to them. But my DH supports and believes me and a trained doctor confirmed my diagnosis, so I try not to let it get to me. But I have my own doubts in my head somedays when I am feeling real good. But then I will hit a flare up and then I remember I am not crazy. I hope for the best for you, and if you need support or have questions post away, we will do our best to help.
Christie
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Christie
~Hoping and Praying for Sleep!~
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My fam thought it was in my head that I was sick for YEARS! I recall being in junior high and I got strep throat. The doc said "Stay home until you feel better." My mom heard "Stay home until your fever is gone". So...when the fever wa gone, even tho I protested and still felt quite ill, she sent me back to school. I ended up in the hospital!!!
I am beginning to see this was neglect.  And hopefully this is NOT what you guys are talking about when your folks don't believe you are sick.
In any case...I BEG anyone out there that is sick NOT TO LISTEN to people that tell you it's in your head. It's NOT!
Sending you lots of love Heather...we're here for you *big hugs*
Ruch
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Yeah, Tissy, I can totally relate to the family/friends not understanding...I think that is why i went so long without getting diagnosed....I would have a few really bad flare-ups, but the rest of the time I "appeared" normal. So it was hard to convince myself that I did indeed have this condition. But you're right, when you are in the middle of a flare-up, there's no mistaking that something is SO NOT normal!
Now along the lines of cycling between flare-ups...I was just today diagnosed with a mild case of bipolar disorder (add that to my steadily increasing list of medical conditions :P). And I realized that my fibro is itself bipolar, in that the pain cycles in and out (sometimes for months, sometimes just pops up to say 'hello' whenever it goshdarn feels like it)...and I think that my polarity of moods seems to correlate pretty well with it. I.e....when i'm really hyper and active (manic), then i seem to be in less pain (or is it because when I dont have any pain, I tend to be hyper???)
I've found several websites suggesting a link between bipolar and fibro, but nothing really conclusive (other than the fact that the two seem to show up together alot in practice!).
Interesting, huh? My body has become a weird science experiment now. I'm starting on a mood stabilizer now (lamictal)...have to take that before i can take an SSRI for the fibro, to avoid any crazy mood cycles.
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Heather
"Quod me Nutrit me Destruit"
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Oh Ruchie, I'm so sorry that you had to go through so much when you were young! I don't know if my parents are so much neglectful, as they are ignorant...still, to this day, when I'm having a really bad day, i'll get some crazy response like "Oh, do you have a cold?" Geez, isn't it apparent that these aren't just your classic cold symptoms????
And I agree with you, for so long I went on thinking that everything (and believe me, my list is getting longer and longer as we speak) was in my head, that I didn't have anyhting wrong with me, that people were right, and I shouldn't appear like a baby by going to the doctor. GO TO THE DOCTOR. Take medications. Do try to feel better when you are sick. Because it's not in your head, these symptoms are real!!! Those are a few things I wished I'd taken to heart over the years.
I'm starting to feel much much better now that things are getting resolved, and I'm starting to make sense of my historical tour down medical lane. This forum is great, and the people on here are so genuine...plus they have loads of helpful advice!! You all rock!
Sending much love back to ya, Ruch...
-Heather
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Heather
"Quod me Nutrit me Destruit"
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Now that is interesting!! I feel very hyper, can't sit still, have to do something kinda feeling when I am having a good day fibro wise. But then when I get into a flare I want to crawl into bed and hide from the world. And I understand about the cycles. I just went for 3 weeks w/ no flare ups and then HELLO here come the achies! They started yesterday and are still here today. Maybe there is a link btwn. Fibro and Bipolar or maybe when we feel good we just FEEL GOOD and want to make the most of it. And when we flare up and feel bad, then it can be depressing. I don't think I will ask doc about Bipolar though, I already have a list of medical issues a mile long, I am afraid he will just add another mile to it.
Christie
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Christie
~Hoping and Praying for Sleep!~
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steather
#172271 - 04/21/05 01:42 PM
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BL
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 3522
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Just wanted to say that I also have bipolar. I have taken many of the mood stabilizers. I'm now on trileptal, which I like, but it has caused vision problems. (I'm off to the eye doctor tomorrow). It sounds like you have a good doctor. It is smart not to start you on an SSRI until you are on a mood stabilizer. I found that out the hard way about 6 years ago! When going through a bad depression, I was given an SSRI---and it caused mania, which is how I came to be diagnosed with BP.
By the way, I see you are in Raleigh. I live in Charlotte. Are you a student at NC State?
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Yup! I am in my first year of graduate school at NC State. I did my undergraduate at Arizona State (and between all of the stress of graduate school, moving across country and now dealing with multiple new health issues, it's been a rough year!!)
I haven't even had any time to go anywhere outside of Raleigh, unfortunately, cuz I would love to see the mountains or beach sometime...maybe this summer.
And I just started taking the mood stabilizer today...and they've got me on a low dose to begin with, gradually upping it until I'm at the dose proven most effective...so we'll see how it goes...hopefully it's not an incredible shock to my system and I dont get any weird side effects (like the fatal rash they warned me about!!) But I have noticed that I'm able to sit here and NOT think for once (I don't know if its all the drugs doping me out, or what). It's amazing! I'm so used to having a million thoughts racing through my head at any given moment, I could never ever relax...
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Heather
"Quod me Nutrit me Destruit"
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Steather.
#172547 - 04/22/05 07:09 AM
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BL
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 3522
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Ahhh, those racing thoughts! That's the same thing I thought when they started me on my med. I couldn't believe that a person could actually think about one thing at a time. I had always had 10 different "channels" going on at once! I used to get confused if I were driving and the radio was on. Now it doesn't bother me! Interstate traffic would give me panic attacks. Now I see only one lane at a time! Does that make sense?
Once on the medicine, I thought to myself, "Gosh, other people have it so easy---if this is how they "see" things!" Life used to be so confusing. Now it is much easier. What should've been easy was so frustrating. (such as preparing dinner.) I would open the pantry and be so overwhelming that I would want to cry. Now I can concentrate on one thing at a time. I just wish I had been diagnosed sooner. My poor family has had to deal with so much, including holidays where I would have a complete meltdown from all the stimuli.
Have you dealt with depression? I had a horrible case of it about 6 years ago (after a traumatic event), and that's when I was diagnosed. I thought everyone had "down" periods like this. It was only after I saw a doctor for this that I realized this was not normal. I had had ups and downs my entire life---but thought everyone had those!!! I asked my husband if he felt that way at different times of his life, and he looked at me puzzled and said, "What are you talking about?"
My husband says when I'm manic I jump from one subject to another while talking. He cannot follow my conversations. I don't realize I'm doing it, but he now knows to say, "Whoa!!! Slow down! You are all over the place!"
I've decided I have weird body chemistry. I don't know if it's the BP or what, but whenever I take meds, I always have the opposite reaction that most people have. For instance, Benadryl (the main ingredient in Tylenol PM) makes me so HYPER that I'm up all night. Same with Nyquil and the SSRI's that supposedly make people drowsy. And Sudafed makes me insane! I got into trouble taking it during allergy season one year. (I didn't sleep for weeks!)
I fought and fought the diagnosis of BP, but after 7 doctors came to the same conclusion, my husband advised me to give up and accept it! I do feel much better on the medicine and have just resigned myself to the fact that I will always have to take it---if I want to lead a life without constant frustation. The minute I discontinue the med, I am so irritable. I'm mad at the world, myself, and everyone I come in contact with. I could pick a fight with the cashier at the grocery store--and am usually in tears. It's just not worth it to me. Now that I have felt a peace, I don't want to return to that.
I hope this medicine helps you. Let me know how it goes!
Good luck!
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Quote:
Yeah, Tissy, I can totally relate to the family/friends not understanding...I think that is why i went so long without getting diagnosed....I would have a few really bad flare-ups, but the rest of the time I "appeared" normal. So it was hard to convince myself that I did indeed have this condition. But you're right, when you are in the middle of a flare-up, there's no mistaking that something is SO NOT normal!
Now along the lines of cycling between flare-ups...I was just today diagnosed with a mild case of bipolar disorder (add that to my steadily increasing list of medical conditions :P). And I realized that my fibro is itself bipolar, in that the pain cycles in and out (sometimes for months, sometimes just pops up to say 'hello' whenever it goshdarn feels like it)...and I think that my polarity of moods seems to correlate pretty well with it. I.e....when i'm really hyper and active (manic), then i seem to be in less pain (or is it because when I dont have any pain, I tend to be hyper???)
I've found several websites suggesting a link between bipolar and fibro, but nothing really conclusive (other than the fact that the two seem to show up together alot in practice!).
Interesting, huh? My body has become a weird science experiment now. I'm starting on a mood stabilizer now (lamictal)...have to take that before i can take an SSRI for the fibro, to avoid any crazy mood cycles.
My sister, who has fibro and bipolar and IBS and migraines, and her psychopharmacologist believe that there is not only a link, that it's really all the same disease at the cellular level, just manifesting in different ways. There are so many similarities it can't be just coincidence. Like with my migraines, I have a hyper day or two just before I get one, when I'm high energy, happy, cleaning everything in sight, etc, then when I get the migraine, I'm so depressed I want to die. Not really, but the change in the seratonin levels is that extreme.
Glad to hear you're doing better, hon, and thanks so much for the compliment about writing a book -- you made my day!
--------------------
Laura
Keep it simple!
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This is interesting. I am bipolar. I'm only learning about fibromyalgia. I ache ALOT, and only sleep when drugged--no joke. When I say, I have to pop a pill to sleep--and, it hurts, skeletally/muscularily to sleep--or it won't happen, I'm quite serious. I've gone years without sleep. The funny thing is, after you've slept, you're tired from actually having slept after such a hiatus from some regular zzz's. It takes a few weeks to get the hang of it and bounce back. Oh, I'm just babbling again...but at least bipolars are brainy and brilliant and creative and the drugs do wonders for facilitating a balanced enough mood to LIVE.
Though, I admit, I miss some of the perks of mania...like the BEST SEX I'VE ever had--note sex, and not relationships!
Bipolar brains are just neurochemically differently wired. Sometimes challenges like this are blessings.
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...in MArk Pellegrino's book. Apparently lots of them are connected. My Mum's (undiagnosed and mildly) bipolar and I get manic and then depressive with migraines too.
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